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"Read Only" issue in Word 2007

diggeryo

Posted 11 March 2008 - 02:18 PM

diggeryo

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343 posts

I have Office 2007 (with SP1 and fully updated) installed on an XP Professional machine (with SP2 and fully updated).

I have a Word 2007 document (named Work.docx) that I open, edit, and save to daily. Though it is NOT read-only, it's probably worth noting that I have a password on this file, so someone who does not know the password won't be able to open the document. The document is saved on a location on my hard drive (in a sub-folder of the My Documents folder). It is NOT located on a network drive.

Every once in a while (maybe every couple weeks)--I can't find any rhyme or reason as to why it happens--when I go to save the file using the save icon in the title bar, Word gives me a message saying "The file is read only." I then have to save the file using another file name (Work2.docx, for example). If I then open the newly created file (Work2.docx) and attempt to save it using the original file name (Work.docx), it will save it without a problem. There will be no warning that the file is read-only. I will then have no problem for a couple weeks until this same issue ocurrs.

I did some searching on Yahoo but can't seem to find my specific problem addressed. If anyone has any suggestions, it would be most appreciated.

thanks,
mike.

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pip22

Posted 11 March 2008 - 02:44 PM

pip22

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The "read only" error is misleading. You'll get this when you try to save a Word document which you've opened from within a compressed archive such as from within a zip-folder. To avoid this problem you need to 'unzip' the document before opening it, edit it, save it (you won't get the error), then re-zip it.

diggeryo

Posted 11 March 2008 - 03:49 PM

diggeryo

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343 posts

Hi Pip,

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, my file is not located within a ZIP file. It is saved directly in a folder on my hard disk.

I should also point out that before this problem ocurrs, I am able to save the file succesfully within the same instance of Word. In other words, the issue doesn't happen only the first time I open the file. I am able to save it until, for whatever reason, Word decides to tell me it's read-only.

timroberts

Posted 03 April 2008 - 07:08 AM

timroberts

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1 posts

I have the same problem-- working on a docx for hours having to save to another name many times to avoid the "read only" bit getting set...
Somehow the system is setting this as we work on the docx-- maybe related to search or some service that is setting this in the background...

AlErT

Posted 03 April 2008 - 08:25 PM

AlErT

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116 posts

hello

I have a Word 2007 document (named Work.docx) that I open, edit, and save to daily. Though it is NOT read-only, it's probably worth noting that I have a password on this file, so someone who does not know the password won't be able to open the document.

timroberts can you tell me wether your file is password protected or not.

AlErT

Posted 03 April 2008 - 08:31 PM

AlErT

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Member

116 posts

The "read only" error is misleading. You'll get this when you try to save a Word document which you've opened from within a compressed archive such as from within a zip-folder. To avoid this problem you need to 'unzip' the document before opening it, edit it, save it (you won't get the error), then re-zip it.

DOCX files are in a compressed format, which WinRar can open. It sounds as though you have WinRar set to be the default program for opening DOCX files rather than Word 2007. Repairing Word 2007 should refix the registry entries - if not re-assign DOCX to Word via Windows Explorer. (Right Click - Open With > Word 2007 > Check always use this application.)

benyneb

Posted 07 November 2008 - 06:23 PM

benyneb

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2 posts

I have the same problem.
my file is not compressed in zip, nor is docx associated with zip program.
and it happens from time to time. i can't tell when i can save and when I have to save under a different name.

independentscholar

Posted 20 April 2010 - 02:17 PM

independentscholar

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1 posts

Vista, Office home and student. Saving in either docx or doc, Word (and I understand also Excel) will manually save, save, save....then decide the file is read-only although the read only box is NOT checked in Properties.

MS stuff is crap anyway, but this is really tough....I'm a writer and need to save files all the time.

MS's "help" pages are worthless....can't communicate with them directly unless I pay...

The problem did NOT exist before I had the hard drive wiped due to Vista errors...installed Open Office....then reinstalled Office. I'm wondering if there's a conflict with Open Office -- maybe MS's way of keeping us from using OO?

Jakester26

Posted 05 April 2012 - 03:26 PM

Jakester26

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1 posts

I have this problem, i.e. Word 2007 opening DOCX files are read-only, from time to time. I have not been able to pin down the steps that led to this. However, I have found a relatively simple way to deal with it.